Signaling device



l Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,850

A. R.'co| LI-:TTE

SIGNALING DEvlcE' Filed June 22. 1923 Inl/@72307 AR. OLLETTE PatentedSept. 7, 1926.

ALEXANDER R. COLLETTE, OF TQNEELQS, 'v'NNESTA.

srenatiiis .envien Application filed .Tune 22,

his invention relates to improvements in signal devices tor street-cars,and the main object is to provide means for signaling other cars andvehicle tratlic in the rear when the car is to stop to dischargepassengers, and thus prevent rear-end collisions, protect passengers andsave loss of time through unnecessary slowing up or stopping ot trathcgoing in the same direction with the car. Further objects will bedisclosed in the course of the following speciiication, the inventionbeing embodied and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ot a street-car embodying` my invention.

2 is a diagrammatic view ot the electric circuit, the bei; l-l beingshown in section.

Referring to the drawing more particularly and by reifer-encecharacters. A designates a street-car having gates C, which are openedand closed by a crank D on a shaft E, operated by the inotorman, and allet which are of common and well known construction.

Enclosing a portion ot the sha-lt E is a box B, in which is arranged anelectro-magnet F, and adjacent one end et' the magnet l? is a lever G,pivot-ally securee as at il, to the box, and adapted to oscillatebetween the magnet F and a stop or lug J. Ar spring l is connected atone end to the boi; and at its other end to the lever, and is soarranged that when the lever G moves 'from the magnet to the lug, orvice versa, the spring will pass over the center H and will thusyieldingly retain the lever either against the lug or the magnet.

A wire 3 connects the lever G to a rear stop or signal light 1, which inturn is connected to a battery 5 by wire 6*?. wire 8-9 runs trom theother terminal ot' the battery 5 to a contact point 10. which, whentouched by the lever G. completes a circuit through the elements (l,l-l, 3, ll, 6 7, 5, S-Q and 10.

@ne terminal ot the magnet F connects with the wire S by a wire 11. Theother terminal is connected by a wire 12 to a bell 1?) in the motormanscompartment ot the car. rlhe bell 13 is 'further connected in circuitwith a series of passenger-operated push button switches 14, 15 and 16by wires 17e-i8, 17-19, and 17-20, respectively, and the push buttons14, 15 and 16 are further connected in circuit to the wire 7 by therespective wires 21, 22 and 23; thus completing a 1923. Serie-l No.647,119.

circuit through the elements 7, 5, 8, 11, F, 12, 153, 17 and theconnecting wires to the switch 14, 15 or 16, which happens to be closed.

The operation and use oir' the device may be briefly explained asfollows lhcn a passenger desires to leave the car at a certain streetintersection he presses (for example) the button 15 upon app-roachingthe intersection. 'lhis closes a circuit through ythe bell 13, thussignaling the motorinan to stop the car, and also completes the samecircuit through and energizing the magnet F. rl`his pulls the lever Gaway from the stop J and to the magnet, thus completing the circuitthrough and energizing the lamp or signal When the passenger' releasesthe Vbutton 15 the signal. il will still be energized, as the spring Kwill keep the lever G in contact with the point 10.

The shaft E has a lug lill, with a hingedly connected spring held tip orportion E2, which slips over the lever G when the crank D is turned inthe direction ot the arrow D1 to open thegates. lVhen the gates are tobe closed, however, by turning the handle l) in the direction of thearrow D2, the member E2 engages the lever G and, in passing, throws itover against the lug J, thus breaking the con-tact G10, andcle-energizing the light 4i.

lt will thus be readily understood that when a passenger wishes to leavethe car he pushes one of the push buttons, conveniently arranged forthat purpose. This rings the bell 13, signaling the motorrnan, and alsoenergizes the signal l, notifying the vehicles going` in the sainedirection that the car is to stop at the next intersection so that thedrivers et said vehicles may govern their actions accordingly.

The signal will, ot course, stay energized until the motor-man closesthe gat-es, after the passenger has been discharged, at which time thesignal circuit will be autor atically broken. and the traino will betree to proceed.

It will be further understood that suitable modilications may be made inthe device. and the circuit arrangement, as herein set forth, provided,however, that such modifications are within the spirit and scope ot theappended claim.

Having now therefore tullv shown and described my invention, what Iclaim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent position, anenergizing circuit for the switch including a motornians signal, amanually operable oircultcloser, and the electromagnet of saidelectromagnetic switch, means 10 operable by tlie gate operating deviceto trip over the armature of sai-d switch, when it is moving in onedirection7 but, when moving in 'the opposite direction to engage thearmature switch and inove it from closed to 15 open positions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALEXANDER COLLETTE.

